I Believe

Spain

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Restless Records
• ASIN: B00005CC2K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,346 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Hopeless romantics are equally blessed and cursed. They wear their hearts on display, trying to attract a soul mate, praying that same person doesn't extinguish them like a heel on a cigarette, and never giving up on a chance to fall in love. Take Spain's Josh Haden, for example. Here's a guy who writes 10 new songs for the band's third album, I Believe, and they're all about love. And not just a "hey, baby, get over here so I can make you a woman" kind of love. We're talking serious "Oh, that feeling/ That was the love/ You've been needing" and "I know/ If we kissed/ Then love/ Would follow" kinds of emotions. The guy is smitten ("You Were Meant for Me"). And brokenhearted ("She Haunts My Dreams"). And smitten again ("I Believe"). He bounces back more times than Elizabeth Taylor, only to get dissed once again. All of these high hopes and heartaches have left Haden a somber man musically, and I Believe is a sparse collection of slow-tempo melodies. His bedroom lullaby vocals add a twist of optimism to the mix, sounding faithful to his pursuits even as the lyrics tell of a crushed man. This quiet, late-night album is one for all the kindred romantics who, like Haden, still believe--even if that means leaving their hearts for the garage man once a week. --Jennifer Maerz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More of the same from Spain, April 29, 2002

By	D'Anne Witkowski (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

Don't get me wrong. I loved She Haunts My Dreams. In fact, I urge you to buy that record instead of this one and be done with it. If you have She Haunts My Dreams, you don't need this one. There is something to be said for artists who stick to what they do well rather than veering further and further away from their signature sound with every release. However, Spain is marching in place with I Believe. There is nothing new here that differers in sound or subject matter from their previous release. In fact, the lyrics on this CD seem to have all been written in one sitting and are virtually identical song to song (how many songs on this CD really need to start with "Oh girl..."?). It's a nice, mellow record, but a disapointment from a band that seems capable of more.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never been to Spain..., June 14, 2001

By	J. J Spina (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

...but I kinda like the music. Literally hundreds of cds perchased by me on Amazon and this is my first review. why break the silence? Quite simply because Spain (or more specifically Josh Haden) breaks the same endless silence with a whisper of love and pure genius unknown to most pop music musings. This man is a fractured-tormented-childish weaver of sublime emoting. His dad is best know for some legendary bass string bending in the jazz world but Josh has cornered the market on gut wrenching, heart-felt sentiments that are at once deathlike and birthright. There is virtually no diffence between this and the first two Spain cds. All are courageously brilliant. They make me cry. they make me smile. They make me remember all the times I've cried and all the times I've smiled. Only one other music maker has this power...Scott Walker. Go figure. Go to Spain immidiately. It might be raining there but the sting of drops will feel amazing on your brain.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I just bought this record., October 2, 2001

By	Juan' De Laruso (San Diego) - See all my reviews

I just bought this and it's great. I think their last record
was one of the best records of the year and I listen to as much obnoxious music as the next guy. I'm expecting to like this one just as much once it sinks in. And the vocals aren't awful.
Awful is out of key. There is only in key and out of key. And Josh's vocals are always in. If you're thinking the vocals are awful then you probably don't realize you've crossed into another genre and just need to retrace your steps with a little more thoughtfulness.